The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors 1950 Chevy Door Lock

Hello forum members, I need some help. I am working on a 1950 Chevy 3100 and the passenger door lock was missing. I got one from Chevy"s of the 40's. I installed it and it didn't work. I removed it checked everything and tried it again. I found the shaft was to short and did not go into the lock mechanism, it was about 1/4 inch short. I had a welder friend extend it. Now the problem is if the door is locked, I can unlock it but I can not lock it again with the key. The key and shaft move but it will not move the lock mechanism. If the door is unlocked, I can lock it but can't unlock it. It seems like the door lock shaft fits to loose inside the mechanism. If I use a flat blade screw driver, it works perfectly! I need help to make this lock work! Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you all in advance!

I had the lock for my ''47 3100 but not the connecting shaft. Got some 1/4" square stock from the local hardware store. Cut it and filed it to size and flattened one side and it worked fine. Ever was able to have the locksmith make me a key since I didn't have one at all.
Check to see if the mechanism is gimmes up with old grease etc. perhaps squirt something like brake cleaner on it to make sure it's "clean". Then........f
I guess I would first try a lube of sort-graphite, oil, grease on the actual
Lock mechanism. It sounds that the handle of the screw driver may be giving you more torque than by using just the key. The cleaning along with the lube may just do the trick. Try with the screw driver, then with the key. Hopefully it will then work!
Also be sure that the shaft is correctly sized.
Good luck.

Don't you just push the handle forward and close the door to lock it? What's with the key?

sorry everyone, it is the outside door lock on the passenger side door. 47PUJim, thank you sir I cleaned and lubed everything up. I a friend brought me an original lock. Seems when the lock smith rekeyed mine, he did not put it together right. It is a tear drop shape and it goes in horizontal (small part faces front of truck). He put it together vertically . looking at the old one and mine, the shaft and key are off. I will take it back for adjustment. Thank you everyone for the help!

Passenger door. Locking from the outside.

http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban64.jpg